Random musings on life, society, and politics

Actually, the theme for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is not “vanity.” It’s “bragging.” But I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to go from bragging (a verb) to vanity (a noun). After all, vanity is excessive pride in one’s appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc. And such excessive pride can often result in bragging. Am I right or what?

And speaking about vanity, what song portrays vanity better than Carly Simon’s 1972 mega-hit, “You’re So Vain”?

The song was written and performed by Carly Simon and released in November 1972 on Elektra Records. It’s is a critical profile of a self-absorbed lover about whom Simon asserts, “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you.”

While there’s been a lot of speculation regarding the subject of the song, Simon has hinted that it refers to three different men, only one of whom, actor Warren Beatty, has she named publicly.

And here are the lyrics:

You walked into the party
Like you were walking on a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf, it was apricot
You had one eye on the mirror
And watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner
They’d be your partner, and

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain,
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?

Oh, you had me several years ago
When I was still naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain, you’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?

Well I hear you went to Saratoga
And your horse, naturally, won
Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you’re where you should be all the time
And when you’re not, you’re with some underworld spy
Or the wife of a close friend,
Wife of a close friend, and

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain, you’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?